The CBS Sports cameras made their traditional game-day pan of the owner’s box at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, catching not just Robert Kraft but also one of his highly recognizable guests: Senator John Kerry.

That prompted instant questions about how Kerry ended up in such rarified air, and whether the secretary of state-to-be paid his fair share to attend.

His staff insists he did.

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In response to a Globe query today, a Kerry aide said the senator personally paid what the team determined to be fair market value—$191 each—for a pair of suite tickets to Sunday’s AFC Divisional playoff game between the Patriots and the Houston Texans.

The senator even charged them to his credit card, creating a record of the transaction.

A news release from the Patriots issued Jan. 4 touted a limited number of tickets being offered for sale to the general public.

“No member, officer, or employee shall knowingly accept a gift except as provided by the Gifts Rule. A member, officer, or employee may accept a gift, other than cash or cash equivalent, having a value of less than $50, provided that the source of the gift is not a registered lobbyist, foreign agent, or private entity that retains or employs such individuals. The cumulative value of gifts that may be accepted from any one source in a calendar year must be less than $100. Generally, gifts having a value of less than $10 do not count toward the annual limit.”

The rules add: “ A member, officer, and employee may accept a gift that is given on the basis of personal friendship, unless there is reason to believe that the gift was provided because of the individual’s official position and not because of the personal friendship. However, if gift exceeds $250 in value, members, officers, and employees must seek written approval from the (Senate Ethics) Committee.”

Kerry was seen before the game roaming the sidelines. At one pointed, he hugged head coach Bill Belichick.

During the game, the senator was in the row behind Robert Kraft and one of his sons, team President Jonathan Kraft. Kerry was captured when the television camera pulled back to show a broader array of suite occupants.

A second Kerry aide described the senator and Kraft as “longtime friends.”

The Patriots went on to defeat the Texans 41-28 to advance to next Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens. It, too, will be played at Gillette Stadium.

A team spokesman did not return an e-mail seeking comment on Kerry’s attendance at the game, or his visit to the owner’s box.